My roomie

It's Joanie's bday today! Went went to Chicago Speakeasy on Euclid to celebrate, since her husband Billy is working and couldn't get up here from Diagonal. He did send roses though. Our lil buddy Krissy (Joan's niece, Amy's classmate and friend) is here working and went with us. It was a nice little non-chain restaurant.

My fave part was the great salad bar! I know - hard to believe. I'm usually a lazy salad eater - would rather have the restaurant prepare and deliver the greenery to me. But CS had corn relish, both kinds of olives, pea salad and more! Worth getting my butt out of the booth and getting.

Back to the bday girl. She is such a sweetheart!

I met Joan back in 1990 when we went skiing with her and her fiance Kevin, Bobbie and Jeff (Joan's bro), Denis and Mendy and Moose and Kay. We stayed at a condo in Silverthorne and skied the Summit. Kevin had battled colon cancer but was in remission. We enjoyed meeting those two, and were sad to find out a few months later that Kevin's cancer had reoccurred. He passed way the next year. I remember attending a memory walk in his honor at Drake Stadium - he had a huge family and many friends - it was a great honor and showed just what kind of guy he was that so many loved him.

Joan struggled through - living in the home they had shared. Going on because she didn't have a choice. She eventually took a promotion with FedEx her employer in Kansas City. A change of venue! Paul helped her move - she's got a hell of a lot of stuff as I can attest to.

When Joan was just out of high school she briefly dated Billy Bentley - and while she lived in KC, Billy moved back to Iowa from California and they began to see each other again. Joan moved back to Iowa 5ish years ago, and 3 years ago Joan and Billy got married. They bought property in St. Charles - thinking of living half way in between their two jobs (he trucks in Diagonal). But so far they continue to utilize the "visitation" method of marriage - hey that sounds familiar!

Joan is kind and giving. She is nearly always cheerful and is a very hard worker. And she puts up with me! That's the best part. When I considered my options for life in the big city, I checked out furnished apartments for something like $500/month. A couple months after I moved in with Joanie (she balked at accepting any rent at all from me, but I insisted...still ...$150/month?!?) I saw that police arrested people in a prostitution ring at one of the apartments I had considered. Cooties! Glad I don't live in the Ho House!

Gsmith

George and Laura with lil Juddy - don't know where the 49ers stuff came from ...

Carol - far right with Ken's wife Mary middle and Paul's sis Jean left.

There are Goldschmidts buried in the Earlville (pronounced Irville by locals) Cemetery. That's what the Goldsmiths were named back when they came to this country - good German stock. Then WW1 happened, and it wasn't popular to be German. Wieners became hot dogs, and many things German were Americanized.

So Goldschmidt became Goldsmith. Not Jewish Goldsmith - evidently there are a lot of Jewish folks with that name. So I was introduced at my cousin's wedding in San Francisco as Leslie Goldsmith "not Jewish". I guess that was important since David and Lisa were married at a beautiful Catholic Church.

Anyways back to the Goldsmiths. You can't swing a cat in Delaware County without hitting a Goldsmith. Most are Paul's immediate relatives. Paul's dad George had 11 brothers and sisters. His mom Laura Nefzger Goldsmith had four? Paul has 2 sets of double cousins - George's sister and brother married Laura's brother and sister. Jim and Bertha had 9 kids just like Geo and Laura. Double cousins! Paul's fam isn't super close to the cousins - guess we have enough to keep track of with the immediate fam!

We (Jud, Odie, Paul and I) traveled to Earlville Friday for the traditional fam get-together. We used to do this at George and Laura's home - in the basement. But they got up there in years and in 2000 they moved into an assisted living facility in Manchester. So we started renting the Eville mealsite. It's worked out pretty well. We have lots of goodies and this year went with sloppy joes.

Moki the Wonder Dog used to always go. Everyone loved him and viceversa. So much so that now Dorie has had 3 Westies. Odie got to go this year - I was nervous having her around little kids and other pets but she was great around them. So was Jud - at least he left them alone...

Who attended? All the sibs made it, except Connie of course - Paul's sister, next oldest from him, who passed away in 2007 after battling breast cancer for years. Connie never married, and was so good to all the 23 nieces and nephews - passing on her 401k to them.

Carol - the Matriarch. Carol is 18 years older than Paul - on her way out the door when Paul was born. Off to nursing school. She met Irvin "Hap" Meyer when she was a nurse in Dubuque and their first child, Joseph was born with water on the brain and lived only a few days. The church ladies whisked in and removed all vestiges of baby - what they did back then, pretending it never happened. When our Patrick was born and died in 1991, Carol went through grieving with us - the grief she'd never been allowed back then. She had son Tom a year after Joseph, then Terry and daughter Barb who just turned 40.

Irv got early onset Alzheimer's - fading away before he was even 50, in a nursing home for a few years so Carol was a widow of a living man. And so young! He died suddenly - in the mid 90's. Carol had been trying to get on with her life. She completed her BSN at Dubuque University - we attended her graduation. Her kids grew up and are all married and successful.

Carol began to bike, and went on RAGBRAI with Paul's sis Jean, hubby Dave, Paul and (no not me...I don't do biking in crowds) Steve our buddy here. A doc Carol worked with in Dubuque set up an overnight during the route in Northwood, Iowa at his widowed father's place. True love bloomed in short order and Carol married Bud Kragenbrink in 1996? Not sure on that year. She sold the farm and moved to Northwood. She and Bud bought a 2nd home in Park Rapids, MN on a lake. Bud's 5 kids and Carol's 3 got along great!

Bud and Carol lived happily for some 10 years - he was a wonderful, kind man who owned a construction firm. Since he was getting up there - early 70's he talked to trying to sell the biz, but it never happened. Bud and Carol started building their dream condo in Northwood. Then, just after Christmas in 2006, I was home after Dad died, before the funeral. A little confused on the timing - it was a busy exhausted time. I got out of the shower, I was home from Atlantic to get clothes for the funeral. Paul told me he'd just gotten a call - Bud and dropped dead during the night. Heart. How much can one woman take? Paul left for Bud's funeral right after Dad's.

Carol found out - after the funeral, the creditors swept in, informing Carol that Bud was swimming in debt. They had kept their money separate, but lived in fine style. Much to Carol's surprise it was all a shell game - Bud had paid for one job with the next and owed on everything. The bank was okay with it as long as he was still in business. The stress must have taken its toll on him. Bud's kids and Carol's kids were very supportive and with their help, she has gotten through it. One tough cookie!

Carol let the dream condo go, and eventually sold the Northwood place (relief). She lives way up north in the Park Rapids home all by herself. She winters in Northwood, house sitting for some friends who really go south for the winter. Jud and Paul visited her this summer - fishing and boating - had a great time.

Carol is a strong person - fun to be around and interesting. I admire her strength and perseverance. I like to hear her stories of growing up Goldsmith - so different from baby Paul's version. They're all pretty close-mouthed about their childhood, unlike my sissies and myself. Stoic Germans. She is the glue of the family. Love you Carol.

Thankful for

I'm thankful for many things in my life. Thought I'd list a few here:

• My immediate family - starting with my life partner (and current Packer-watching) Pablo, and our children Amy, Judson and Patrick
• My sisters:
• Susan, funny & smart, someone I've always looked up to - she got her masters degree in Environmental Mgt. We tease her that now she's the matriarch of our family. Susi went away to college when I was 11. I missed her a lot. Her family - Jim and their kids David, Leslie and Jordy.
• Cynthia, cool, someone people want to be around. Hard worker, and goofy like Dad. Cindy was my tormenter growing up, but we've become great friends - sharing our spring break in Florida for the past 10 years. Smart too -hey seems to be a theme with the Bullock gals. Hubby Bolder (Brian) and son Colby the chef.
• Elizabeth, organized, smart and efficient. A great mother and Longaberger genius. Great sense of humor. Betso and I spent the most time together growing up. She was kind of a wiener then, but she's a mamma tiger now. Husband Dr. Wayne, kids Alex, Paul, Eric, Sarah and Baby David (he's 12 but will always be Baby David to our fam).
• My sweet Aunties Marty and Jean and their fams.
• My In-Laws - George and Laura passed away nearly 10 years ago now, but they left a fantastic legacy in their children who are all wonderful people. And they all married wonderful people. (like Pablo for example). Their children are all great too! The oldest Tom is only 6 years or so younger than Paul who is the baby of the fam (out of 9 kids). Amazing group - CPAs, an attorney, a couple physical therapists, salespeople - all seem to be wonderful parents to an increasing number of their own children. Great role models for our children.
• My friends - hmm where to start? At the beginning -Robbie Dob, my oldest friend. Sal - her folks were like an aunt and uncle to me and college friend and roomie, Christie D, Mona, all my other homies - Julia, Pammy, Chris W, Candice, Paula, Sandy - and more. We had a great high school class ('76 rules!). Roger and Todd. Those girls from the class ahead of ours were a fun bunch too.
• On to college where I hung out with people who helped shape my adult life - first of all Vicki. What a great person to meet the first day of college! Jane - another true blue friend. Those two along with Sal and myself made up The Big 4. Moose and Steve - my first guy buddies. Jane Ertl. Pablo's friends who became mine - Mike and Tom. Schneid. Brad. Bobby Fitz. And though I didn't know her well in college, one of my good friends Kay (Moose's wife). Nothing like old friends - you can pick up right where you left off, and no use pretending you're someone you're not. They already know your warts.
• Post college - people I've met through jobs and Paul's co-workers. Karla from Fox River who found me on Facebook. My Gits buds - CW, the twins and Jeanne, My trash friends - Christine, my 'lil buddy (cuz she's only 34), Susan, Pam and Barb - been hanging with those pretty ladies for the past 12 years. And now my new work buddies - Becky, Jim, Angie and heck yeah, even my boss Al. Kevin and Kim.
• My homies - my besties - Deb and Bobbie. Dee, Sharon and the workout/breakfast gang Susan, Pat, Lucy, Linda, Nanc, Patti. I rely on these women in joy and in sadness. And I'll be there for them too. My roomie Joanie - I always knew she was nice, but living with her I realize how selfless she is. Our tailgating, lake going buddies - McKims, McFees, Higgins, Conovers. Mary F. Other assorted buddies like Alt L&P.
• My book club - besides Deb, all these ladies were met through a mutual love of reading. I've enjoyed this group a great deal.
• Other friends I'm not thinking of right now - like a star accepting an Oscar, I'm blanking on all the important people.
• My health care providers - Dr. Wilcox (my doc growing up - used to come to our house and give me a shot in my butt - after taking my temp there) Dr. Hoyt, Sheryl, Dr. Buck, Donnie who puts up with my biffed up left eye.
• The great pets I've been blessed to know. My Juddy doggy bro. Frosty and Jack my horses. Bucko evil kitty. Moki best dog evah. Samantha - "kitty". Odie lover of full grown people (she doesn't like kids).
• My house - we moved here in 1998. I love our view, the neighborhood and the fact that I can live life upstairs. I don't like basements.
• My job - a perfect fit for me. Doing what I love - feeling like I can make a difference. Getting paid decent and treated even better.
• Little things like my laptop and my car.
• My adult relationship with my kids. It's so fun to see our children grow up (yeah Patrick gypped us) and to get to know the people they've grown into. Can't wait to see what's next for them.
• You readers. Though I'd do this blog without outside input, I value your eyes and input.
• My Higher Power. I'm not quite sure what that means - still searching for a meaning in life. But this I know - there is something beyond this life of mine. Otherwise there would be no point. Nature is so beautiful. People can be so kind to others, and so brave. That comes from beyond humans - beyond this Earth. So thanks to you higher power, for all the great things in my life.

Thanksgiving memories

Dad with Marty left and Jeanie right grew up at 909 Poplar in Atown.







Above - the living room at Momo and Bubba's.
Left to right - Momo, Mom, Dad with Cindy, Bub, Susi with our doggy bro Jud and me on my other Grandma's lap (we called her Gramma) My other gramps Pops must have been behind the lense.


I love Thanksgiving! It's a great holiday, sans much of the hoopla of Christmas. And turkey tastes so good with all the fixins.

When I was a child, I was mostly oblivious to all that went into Thanksgiving dinner. When my grandparents (Dad's parents, Wally and Zora Bullock - we called 'em Bubba and Momo) were still in good health and living in their home at 909 Poplar in Atlantic, we went to their house for Thanksgiving. It was the house my dad and his sisters grew up in.

It was a grand old two story house complete with a dank, dark basement and an attic with creaky stairs and insulation showing between the rafters. My sisters told me not to step on that stuff, because I would sink into oblivion. And I believed 'em! We usually entered the house from the alley - parking behind their detached single car garage, going up the walk to the porch and in through the large kitchen. Beyond the kitchen was the formal dining area which contained a beautiful table that sat 12 or so easily.

From the dining area, you passed through the formal entry area from the large front porch (complete with wooden swing). That room went on into the combination living/family room. To the left - the front of the house, were Momo and Bub's chairs and the center of their universe (by that time they were getting up there in years), the color console television. Bubba's pipe collection and tobacco sat by his chair. I loved to smell the stuff. Momo always had her Salem cigs by her side.

On the other end of the room sat Momo's upright piano. In between there was a gorgeous wood burning fireplace and a floral print couch. Momo's prized mirror (she never would tell anyone what it set her back) was in the room too. I hear Momo could play any song by ear, but I don't remember her playing the piano. There were built in book shelves that contained Momo's cruet collection. Connecting the living room and the kitchen was a long bathroom - stool, sink and a large bathtub.

The door to the dark basement was in that room. On the wall, in the plaster in the stairwell were my handprint belonging to Dad and his sisters Martha and Jean. The basement included the washer and dryer, and huge hold stove and the room where the coal was kept before gas heat was installed. There was a little area where we were sent to play - there were a few toys down there. But we never stayed long. It was cold and dark.

Inside the front entrance sat my favorite item - a pine chest of drawers that contained the toys and games. There was some type of board game - Speed Racer? Can't quite remember. It was old. There was a suede bag of marbles in there too. And tiddly winks. Remember that game? We used Momo's wrought iron corn muffin tin to "wink" into. I grew up thinking that was part of the game, until I was older and figured out those corn shaped things were for baking.

Stairs in the entry way lead up to the four bedrooms and bath. Bub had the largest room, and by then Momo slept in her own room. Bubba did oil painting and one bedroom kept his easel and paints, along with paintings in various stages. The forth bedroom was where we stayed when we overnighted with them. (it was a good jumping bed too).

In the middle of all those bedrooms was the door that led to the attic, up creaky wooden stairs. It contained various treasures including my aunties prom dresses. Along the steps there was a built in bookshelf where I found many beloved books - Happy Hollisters, Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew and more left behind by Dad and his sisters. I still have a few of those books.

Thanksgiving memories in that house are many and rich. Besides my immediate fam and M & B, various others attended through the years. Bubba's brother Max (un PC nicknamed Nig thanks to his dark skin tone and no I didn't get none of that...) and his wife Mary Lou, Hazel Marshall - Momo's bestie to name a few. Momo was a fab entertainer, and had a very quick wit. After we played and the adults had drinks (we always have been an evening eating bunch - no "dinner" turkey for us), it was time to eat. The table was gorgeous - complete with special china and a crystal turkey shaped cranberry dish. Black olives were featured on the relish tray - and they always made their way onto our finger tips.

A card table was set up for turkey carving next to the table. One year it collapsed, dropping the turkey to the floor. Momo whipped it out to the kitchen in a flash and brushed it off. Before we knew it she returned saying "good thing I had that back up turkey in the kitchen!" Many of us like dark meat so she would get 2 extra legs. And after we eat, dad would lay on the floor moaning saying he'd eaten too much. And I can never pass a time eating turkey when I don't think and say his fave phrase "Sherky toot in Kenver Dolorado" which came from an old joke about a drunk.

The best thing about my memories of Thanksgivings past at my grandparents is that I was too young to remember any unpleasantness. Or I've blocked it out. I'm sure there were harsh words at times, fighting and crabbiness (and that doesn't include sibling spats - that's just the grownups) dry turkey and too much alcohol. But not in my memory. I love Thanksgiving.

On the Job

Above - the Wallace Building. I work on 5th floor

I've been on the job now for nearly a year. I know - hard to believe huh? It was the first week in December last year that I interviewed for my job at IDNR. While finishing up a grant-funded project for Prairie Solid Waste, I'd been lobbying for a job at DNR for several months.

Last year wasn't the first time I applied at DNR. I had decided by 2006 that I was no longer happy with what was once my dream job. While I still enjoyed many of the things I did, the politics of the transition from landfill to transfer station did me in. Neither did I like the operations part of running a landfill. Life is too short to hate your job!

So in December 2006, I applied for a job at DNR and even had an interview lined up. Then Dad and Kay (his lady friend) came home for Christmas. Dad became ill - they thought it was the flu, and he was hospitalized. On Christmas Day I got a panicked call from Kay saying Dad had taken a turn for the worse - by the time I got to Atlantic he was being rushed to an Omaha hospital.

Dad was really sick, but the docs weren't quite sure what was wrong. He was comatose. Kay and I stayed the night at Methodist. It was bleak. I called for the troops - Cindo hopped in the car and drove all day Christmas Day, staying overnight somewhere in Nebraska - truck stop food for her supper. Susi and Betsy flew in the next couple days.

My interview had been set up for that week, but I couldn't deal with it. So I called and withdrew my application at DNR. Dad had emergency surgery - they discovered part of his colon had died and it was poisoning the rest of him. He made it through the surgery but never came out of it. His kidneys shut down. My sisters and I made the decision to turn off life support, and just like when Mom died he waited until I was gone to quit breathing. My parents always did try to protect me.

Living through Dad's death reminded me that life is short. I did not want to waste more time being miserable at work. I told my board of directors at Prairie that I was quitting. I wanted to give them plenty of time to find a director. In April we found out that a USDA grant I had worked on was funded - which would allow me to do all the things I liked at my job for 12 months starting October 1, 2007. Yahoo. Boy that year went fast - but I was ready to be totally done at Prairie by then. I spent 12 years of my life there and it was time to walk away and let someone else take over. I was busy as executor of Dad's estate (that was a tough job - thank goodness the Poolboy helped).

So by the summer of 2008, I was starting to think about my next act. I'd heard rumors that DNR was looking at a new initiative - Environmental Management Systems. I wanted to be a part of that. I began to lobby a couple of the supervisors at DNR - "keep me in mind when you have an opening." In early October I ran into Brian, our Bureau Chief at the Fall Conference. He hit me up about a new position. I was thrilled he thought of me (even though that's what I'd been aiming for).

I got my application all ready and when the opening was posted, I was all over it! I interviewed for the job on a Wednesday. I nailed it. I felt really good about how I answered all the questions and got good vibes from the interview team. I was thrilled the next day when Al (now my boss) called to say I was the top candidate - he and Alex wanted to talk with me again just to firm things up. I met them for lunch that Friday. I started a couple weeks later on December 19th.

It's hard working in a town 65 miles from from home and my beloved. But I love what I do!

A bit about a few things

A book I read recently had a very important suggestion. I've followed it all these years, but for you single girls and boys out there - there's still time to heed this advice.

"Never boink (a nice word for the real word the author used) someone who has more problems than you do." I know, I like to swear and use the F word freely. So why so shy about using it here? I'm not sure. It just doesn't seem right. I guess I like using the F word as a swear word, not as a verb.

I had issues with a "road rager" this a.m. on my way here from Crestonia. I left Creston around 6:15 a.m. and hit I-80 at a pretty busy time. There was a couple semis in the right lane, somewhere around the Adel exit. An SUV was blocking things up in the left lane - not moving much faster than the semis. But we were coming up to an on-ramp and I saw cars wanting to get on the Interstate. I checked my mirrors and saw a car in the left lane, but there was room to scoot in between that car and the one ahead of it - a couple car lengths.

So I put on my blinker and smoothly changed lanes, enraging the car behind me. Well not the car so much as the driver who I never did get a look at. He/she (I'm thinking guy) got right up on my tail and flashed his lights. Wow buddy - not that big a deal. When I was able to clear the semis and move over into the right lane, the guy flashed his lights again, pulled up next to me, swerving towards my lane and then gunned it. Fucker! There I said it - not a verb. Adjective.

Baby girl Amy (okay she's 24 but she'll always be my baby girl) called me this afternoon, on her way walking home from work. She works at Marczyk's - a gourmet market in Denver. I've not been there yet, but it sounds like a cool place. They sell upscale stuff - wines, free range meats, and it seems rare things. Ame sold a truffle mushroom yesterday for something like $484. Yikes! Wonder if that's going on a pizza pie? Not likely.

I made my inaugural visit to the Waukee YMCA tonight. It's a rockin' place. The suspended track circles 2 gyms. Tonight little guys (3/4/5 year olders) were in karate class. It was too cute - there must have been 25 of 'em. It's a beautiful facility and I look forward to going there often.

Catechism

It was my blog about cartoons that got me thinking church thoughts. Why? Because God Damn (I can swear and just confess it it goes away after a few prayers...) Catechism kept me from watching cartoons through sixth grade!

Atlantic does not have parochial schools. So all the fish-eater children had to attend Saturday morning Catechism to learn about our faith. It was unholy torture I tell ya!

I'm not quite sure about the timing. I recall several nuns - Sr. Therese, Sr. Janice, but no real faces or stories. For a while, we had to attend religion classes in old houses around the church. The church had purchased them for a future education center. We also spent some time at the 4-H building with classrooms fashioned from movable walls. Loud! The new center was finished when I was in junior high. It was and still is a very nice facility - big gym, classrooms, kitchen.

I believe Catechism went from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. So I missed out on Johnny Quest, Spider Man, Super Man, Mighty Mouse - all those action hero cartoons of the 60's. We usually carpooled with the Reinertson family from next door. Their kids were stair-stepped with our family.

Bonnie R. was oldest - 1 year older than my sis Susan.
Then they had a token boy Donnie - we had no match unless you include our doggy bro Jud.
My sis Cindy was next (she blew off Wednesday night religion one time and got busted)
followed by Kathryn R. one year younger
then came Laurie R. my buddy and best friend until age 9 or so.
me
Betso Bean Bullock
and finally Annie R.

I don't know how we all fit in one car - no seatbelts necessary of course. This makes me chuckle. Reinertsons had a maroon Buick or some such car. After Catechism one Saturday a.m. we saw it parked outside the new Ed facility, so we got in, waiting for Rosemarie R. to come out and drive us home. But then she drove up in the maroon Buick. We had been sitting in Monsignor Kane's car of the same color make and model! Jesus!

That old time religion

I grew up a little Catholic girl. Though looking back, Mom was just going through the motions. I don't remember her ever praying or even talking about God. She just made sure the little Bullock girls went to to church and got all those necessary sacraments.

Dad wasn't Catholic. He was Country Clubian - playing golf at Atlantic Golf and Country Club in the warm months and playing pitch in the bar of the Club when it was cold. It was very exciting for me when it (by it I do mean my father - we called him it for fun. Not really but I'm covering up a typo) did go to church on the rare occasion - usually midnight mass, once Betso was old enough to attend along with the rest of the gang.

My first memories of church are pre Vatican II. Kneeling on the rough wooden kneelers at the beautiful St. Peter and Paul church in Atlantic. My knees would get all bumpy and sore. Back then, we had to wear hats or doilies on our heads in church, the priest faced the altar saying mass and there was a wooden railing between the altar and the people. During communion, people would go up and kneel by the railing and the priest would walk along and give each one the holy Eucharist.

Mass seemed to go on forever back then! I would cringe when the priest would pick the longest option for the middle part of the mass. So I would begin to daydream. Our church had an elaborate altar - very tall and ornate. It had little openings like doors and windows, and places for statues. It was gilded. In my mind, little gnomes lived there, climbing to and fro to visit friends, gather food and water (holy of course). Ah what an imagination - or what ADD take your pick!

I think back about all the kids in my grade that attended the Catholic Church. I wonder how many of them go there now. Less than a third I'm betting. Maybe less than a tenth. Would I be Catholic now if I'd not married Paul Goldsmith? Hmmm I'm thinking no, but I'm not sure I'd have gone for another religion. Probably would just have dropped out, like my sis Cindo - who remains a very spiritual person, just not a church-goer.

For now, I'll continue to attend. It makes Pablo happy. And it is a ritual to me that I'm not totally ready to give up. The physical place - Holy Spirit is homey. I like being surrounded by people I have come to recognize, know and like through these past 23 years. The Mass - again the ritual is calming. We Catholics aren't known for kick ass music, but again I enjoy singing hymns and trying to harmonize when I was never really an Alto (thanks a lot Delma Wright of AHS for stifling my musical ego). During Mass I don't imagine little elves living in the altar, but it is a good time to reflect on my week and my actions.

Cartoons

I'm just a big 52 year old kid. I love cartoons. Why aren't Looney Tunes on TV anymore?

I'm reading a Greg Hurwitz book "Trust No One". In it, the main character, Nick, an emotionally damaged (those are my fave characters - flawed but good people) main character loves Looney Tunes. He says, on page 41, "...I love how Acme makes everything from flypaper ot disintegrating pistols. I love how when a character goes through a wall, he leaves behind a perfect silhouette. I love how steaks are always shaped the same and make everyone drool."

"I love how no one really dies."

Bugs Bunny is a good one - along with Wile Coyote. I like Foghorn Leghorn - "Boy, I say boy." And that little chickenhawk with the glasses. I love Tom and Jerry, and that big bulldog - Spike and little Spike. The housekeeper - we never see her head, cajoling Thomas. I love it when their eyes pop out of their heads.

My all time favorite though are the Tex Avery cartoons. The ones with the wolfy character - who whistles at the hot lady singing on stage, his heart pops out of his chest, his car turn corners bending in the middle. And then there is my all time fave, Droopy. Mr. Understated - always deadpan, calm. After all the evil things the wolf guy does to him Droopy says, "I hate you." Very calmly.

Utube has the best Droopy cartoon here - linked it here - Deputy Droopy.

I like some of today's cartoons - Family Guy, the Simpsons, even South Park. But those are not family shows. The old cartoons are not politically correct - I know. But they are still just silly funny - things we can all laugh at. I miss them.

Sunday morning update: Damn - just finished the book. That Hurwitz is my kinda writer. Haven't read a "can't stop reading" book for a long time. Love his character development and pace. This book would make a great movie.

Exercising

I worked out today and it felt great. Yay!

I joined the brand spankin' new YMCA in Waukee (above) right before I broke my foot. So I haven't yet set (brokey) foot in the place. But my Waukee Y membership transcends to Creston, thank goodness. We had been members of the Creston Y since it opened - but my Big City job has precluded going there. Hmmm hope I used all those new words properly...

This summer, while healing from my hysterectomy (geez what's with me and the health issues - let's hope and pray that 2010 is the year of healthy Leslie) I walked to the Y and talked to Jackie the Y Director (not to be mistaken for Pat Bullock, whom we also called the Y Director) to ask her what she suggested. Should I join the Creston Y and be a guest in Waukee or join Waukee. That's what she suggested I do.

I came home to Creston last night after a busy/exhausting work week. So this a.m. at 5:30 a.m. at the Creston Y, I walked a couple laps and lifted weights. I quit wearing the boot on my foot yesterday. The foot/ankle feels pretty good. After weights, Deb and I did water walking with the SWCC softball team. Them - 18 years old in bikinis. Us - tank suits, jealous of their bikini bodies. But wiser and we have more insurance than them. We exercised our jaws and our bodies. It felt great!

Next week I vow to check out the Waukee Y.

Happy Thursday

I had meetings Monday through Wednesday this week - at the Holiday Inn Express near Jordan Creek in West DM - by all the new stuff. We kicked off a pilot program for landfills across the state -Environmental Management Systems. I'm pretty excited about it! It's a system of continuous improvement in several areas including water quality, greenhouse gas, recycling and more. Oh I could go on and on, but you're likely bored already. Can't help it - it's my life.

Anyway, I worked at home much of last week and not in the office much this week either. You know what? I've missed my cubicle! I was happy as a clam in my little home away from home today. Surrounded by my photos - family, homegirls. Hmmm we need to take a book club photo at our next meeting. Need to get those ladies represented in the Cube.

On Thursdays, a guy from somewhere in our building comes by to wish everyone "Happy Thursday" and looks to see if they're wearing red shirts. It's some theme he started himself. I think he used to work on our floor. He's all cheerful and stops in various cubicles to chat - repeating the same mantra over and over - "Happy Thursday, oh great you have red on." and more idle chat that he repeats in each cubicle. Today - I didn't even mind him.

I was ready to go home though - home to Creston.

My father

had quite a schnoz. That's nose for all youse out there that don't speak Bullock. And to go with that beak, he had a sneeze that could scare the crap out of you when you weren't expecting it! Loud and full volumed. (we won't even get into noises he made with his other end - goose snorts, and helicopters) Okay I did get into it - but that's it. Today's blog is about sneezes.

Today, at day 2 of my Environmental Management System meeting, I sat one person away from someone with a cold and cough. He rudely just kept coughing away as the speaker tried to explain a new way of approaching environmental excellence at solid waste facilities. A big learning curve like that isn't helped by a guy hacking away. I was embarrassed for him.

Good thing I'm taking antibiotics for a sinus infection already. I know - I'm not having a good November - first the broken foot, then last weekend featuring sinus pain and 4 migraine med days in a row. My foot is feeling better though - should be out of the boot by this weekend.

I'm bummed. I can't tell if anyone out there in cyberspace is even reading my blog. No comments - no checkmarks. Have you notices the new area at the bottom where you can check if you read it or there are some other choices. I need some feedback! I know I said I do this for me, but me wants to hear from you! Thanks for your support.

Memory by committee

Saturday demonstrated the power of a group. One of the tough things about aging is the increasing problem remembering stuff - often names. It's very frustrating - knowing just who you mean but you can't quite put your finger on that name.

At Saturday's tailgate, Deewidget (that's what I call Dwight Conover, my neighbor the banker). Dwight calls me Laster. I used to work for him at FNB - First National Bank in Creston. That was my first job when I moved to Creston. I was thrilled to just get a job - new in town and all. I started in bookkeeping - it was kind of a comedown for somebody who had a career before baby.

FNB was a great place to meet people, and learn the names of people around town. A great crew of women worked downstairs with me running the proof machine coding checks in batches. Sandy Hysell, Cathy Lacina, Pam Grey and Jody Krings. We laughed a lot, and talked about our kids. Once each month we stuffed statements, chatting about who was who.

Deewidget was the big boss - he and his brother bought the bank a couple years before I started working there. He's a good guy who likes to give people crap. When I was pregnant with Jud, he teased me about my stretchy pants. I told him they weren't any worse than the Sansibelt pants he wore!

Anyway Dwight and wife Marilyn tailgated with us Saturday, along with McKims and Higgins. Dwight was trying to remember the name of the Priceline guy. Cept he didn't say the Priceline guy at first, he said "that guy from Star Wars, you know what's his name." That was followed by speculation about who he might be talking about, before we finally settled on (damn I just forgot it again and had to Google it) William Shatner. I'm going to have to retire with a bunch of my buddies so they can help me remember shit! Memory by committee.

2nd favorite movie

My second favorite movie of all time is on now. "The Wizard of Oz" is a timeless classic. It was one of the first color movies I ever saw. The Bullock girls used to go over to Hazel Marshall's house so we could see it in color before we had our own color television.

Hazel and Sam Marshall were my grandparent's good friends. They lived in a cute little brick bungalow with an arched front door. Their house was only a few blocks from ours. Sam died when I was young and I don't remember him. Hazel was a cute little thing with a raspy voice. My gran - Momo we called her - and Hazel had a love hate relationship. They spent lots of time irritated with each other, but were fast friends. They played a lot of golf and bridge together.

So somehow we got invited to see Wizard of Oz at Hazel's house. The early part with the storm was pretty scary - even in black and white! I knew Iowa had tornados - we had to bail out to the basement when they came. Then the house flew and spun (in the movie...not our house thank goodness). The other very scary parts were the flying monkeys and the witch of course. I swear Elvira Gulch lived in Atlantic - a combination of Sheila Savory (another one of Momo's friends - a lush that one. And Mrs. Mauk from up the street). My first worry was always Toto's safety.

My favorite part of the movie is the when Dorothy first hits Oz - her welcome by Glenda and Follow the Yellow Brick Road, wish special kudos to the Lollypop Guild and the babies who pop out of the eggshells. The Tin Man was always my fave character. The sets were fantastic, and I loved the horse of a different color.

When I got a bit older, Mom introduced me to the fabulous book series that started the Wizard of Oz. A series written first by Frank L Baum, and then by others who were quite as good frankly. There were many fantastic characters - Ozma, Button Bright, The Shaggy Man and his brother, Ruggedo, the Woozy, Tik Tok and Jack Pumpkin Head. There were wonderful evil characters that always had a bit of good, and good characters with little flaws, self centered people and idiots. Just like real life!

Mom usually gave the books to Cindy and me for birthdays and Christmas. I read them over and over. The artwork was great. Mom even had to scour used book stores to find some of the volumes - a series she read when she was a child.

The Oz books contributed to my love of reading - I still have it today. Thanks Hazel and Mom! Run Toto Run!

Cyclones, headaches

It's that time of year- Cyclone hoops are starting up. Pablo and I purchased our very first season tickets. We talked about it last year - they have $99 tickets. We went to our first game Friday night. Of course we're in the cheap seats - corner, 2nd row from the top. Fun to walk to in a boot. Not! Good thing this is the last week of the boot for me.

The team looks good - lots of talent, fun to watch! I'm sure they'll have their ugly games. Regardless, the season should be (has to be?) Coach Greg McDermott's best. GMac has had some rough luck since coming to ISU. Everyone wants him to succeed, but his first few years of coaching have been not so good. Players defecting, injuries, having to dismiss a good player - all hard to deal with. GMac is finding it takes better talent to win in the Big 12 vs the Valley conference.

We took #1 son Judson out to eat at Okoboji Grill prior to the game. Not a huge crowd for the Cyclone bball opener. The team started a bit slow, but had a great stretch late in the first half. We stayed at the Gateway overnight - a nice place still after all these years. Got a good deal thanks to Priceline.com.

In the a.m. we took HyVee breakfast burritos over to Ryan McKim's new condo, where his parents were in remodel mode. Re-doing the whole damn place. Then a bit of shopping - found my new favorite store - Jax in Ames, a great outdoors type clothing/hunting place. Got some Merrell boots on sale. Yay me. Kept my foot (other in boot) toastie at the game.

Football game was great! Cyclones always make it interesting, even in victory. Must admit I got a bit choked up watching the students rush the field after the team's 6th victory making ISU bowl eligible. I love our coach.

Home after the game - stopped by A&G to chat with Bobbie and Jeff who stayed home this weekend, working. Odie was happy to see us - home from Lila's puppy spa.

This a.m. I woke up with yet another headache. I'm starting to think I've got a sinue infection. Tired of sinus headaches that become migraines. I've got a busy week ahead - no time to be sick!

Rammy

Males can get sort of rammy. I also call it "testosterone poisoning". They sometimes to unexplainable things when under this spell.

There is a cardinal who lives at our house who has been rammy for the past month. I wish he would get him a birdy girlfriend and leave my windows alone. Mr. Cardinal stays busy nearly every day ramming into all the windows in the back of our house.

The first time it happened, I didn't know what the noise was and it was bugging me! I was working at home, sitting in my usual fave chair pointing towards the front of our house. I wondered if the frig was having issues. I was bewildered. (don't you just love that word?) What was that irritating noise. When I looked around the kitchen - and saw nothing! So I sat down and it started up again.

Then I finally saw it - a flash of red by the kitchen window. A male cardinal - fighting himself! He has got to have brain damage by now, or at least a concussion or two. Today when I looked out, there he was in all his red splendor. There was a male Blue Jay watchin' him goin "man, you are dumb!" Paul has done a great job of planting habitat around our deck. The birdies love it! Several sparrows watched in horror.

Boys, like birdies are often rammy. Jud often had mega slumber parties for his birthday. They always involved competition. When we first moved to this house, the basement was unfinished mostly. Jud and his buddies set up forts with pillows and split into two teams who would fling giant stuffed french fries (yes, and Aunt Cindo gift) at each other. Sometimes they'd get way too rammy and I'd have to go down and break the game up. (I know...fun-killer).

Here is the big question. Why can most men learn to curb their aggression (or maybe don't have that level in the first place), but others can't stop it? I ask this when yet again, a woman has tried to escape an abusive man - in Des Moines this time but it happens everywhere. She ended up dead. Restraining orders count for nothing. There is no way to escape. The man had abused other women. He couldn't, wouldn't stop. So he killed his child's mother. Nature and/or nurture?

Veteran's Day

Wayne Bullock, David Judson (my dad), Adnah David with Wallace (my gramps - Bubba) in back

Mom and Dad - so young!

I never thanked my daddy for his service to our country. I kinda took it for granted. He served in Korea during 1952, after my sister Susi was born. Mom and he got hitched in 1950 while they were students at the University of Iowa. (I know - hard to believe I come from a long line of Hawkeyes. My grandparents, Wallace and Zora met at the U of I too).

After Dad died I got a better idea of Dad's time in Korea when I went through his stuff while my sisters and I cleaned out his condo. That stuff was one thing Pat2 (his 2nd wife) didn't get rid of when she re-did the condo. Dad didn't see any front line action in Korea. He helped organize things at the base. His stuff came complete with a menu he put together for their Thanksgiving meal.

Dad finished up his high school years at a military school named Kemper in Boonville, Missouri. (Something about a tipped over outhouse and bad grades) Back in the mid 1940's several young men from Atlantic and all over the midwest attended Kemper. In fact one of my dad's classmates was George Lindsay - Goober Pyle. Austin Turner who grew up to be a mover and shaker in Corning also attended.

Dad was a ROTC when he got to the U of I. He and Mom lived at an army base in Georgia when they first got married. Then he got shipped out. Mom and Susi spent quite a bit of time out in California at my mom's sister's house (Aunt Dorothy - ISU grad) Once he came home, they moved to Atlantic where he began to work at my uncle and grandpa's store - Bullock's Department Store. The original Bullock's was in Anita - started by my Great great Grandpappy Adnah David Bullock - Civil War Veteran who lived until 1941.

Along with Dad's army stuff, I ended up with much of Adnah David's Civil War stuff. When I was little, it was kept in the Ethan Allen chests of drawers in our formal living room. Of course being the little Nancy Drew that I was, I investigated that stuff. There was a small starter pistol among these effects. Complete with a metal container full of gun powder. One time I messed around with it all for a while and aimed it over my head, pulling the trigger. A loud bang resulted, scaring the sh&* out of me!

I'm thankful to all the Armed Forces and Veterans out there. Now, more than ever I understand your sacrifices.

.5 PMS

So, though my uterus is gone, I've still got one ovary. And that baby is still ticking, according to my symptom-o-meter.

• Chin breaking out
• migraines
• bitchy
• slight depression

So my finely honed Nancy Drew detective skills have kicked in, and I realized I have PMS. It was much easier to figure out in my younger years. 26ish days, cramps and menstruation were all my clues. At least the messy bleeding and cramps are gone.

Other good news? I'm home for the week and it's only Tuesday! And I get to go to breakfast with my homies tomorrow. Hoping the PMS is gone by then.

I am so very pleased that my chillins (children) bought me a Lion King ticket for my bday. Pablo the Poolboy will go with me on January 15th. I got to see that show back in 2000 at the Amsterdam Theater with Amy, my sis-in-law Jean Fox and her daughter Peg. It was so beautiful that I cried at the very beginning - a new world record. Usually I wait until some heart-wrenching part farther into a show. But this was emotionally overwhelming. I can't wait to go again! Thanks to Amy and Jud for their thoughtful gift!

My first buddies

Moose (with pipe) and Steve showed up at one of our parties in their suits, just to freak us out. Vicki's mom Barb sewed us these aprons after. Don't you love the 'fro look on me?

I never really had guy friends until I met Moose and Steve. Tommy Buck doesn't really count - he lived near our house and I mostly like him because he had guy toys - little green army men etc.

My sophomore year of college was when Moose and Steve were lined up to be our flag football coaches. Steve Hauser (also known as Stevad, just to make his name a bit Iranian in order to drive him wild). Moose's real name is also Steve. But his first week of school he was deemed Moose by guys on their dorm floor - Stevenson House in Birch dorm. Stevenson also boasted Dairy Cow, Den Rat (or Dirger), Pig Farmer, and don't forget Shit for Brains.

Stevad was a very intense football coach - drawing up new plays during the week. Moose was more about teaching blocking techniques. We quickly became fast friends with those two guys. Hauser and Sally had a brief romance, but as with many of Sal's romances it was doomed. Sal liked the Bad Boys and Stevad was just too nice. Moose and I "hung out" a bit, mostly at the end of Stevenson House parties when I could finally talk Moose into dancing. After lots of beer.

By our junior year, they were our guy friends. We always knew when they were visiting our apartment because they would trip the breaker for our power. Click. Dark. They loaned us their good stereo and bitchin' albums for one of our parties. They hated disco though so we couldn't play any disco on their turntable.

The spring of our junior year (they were seniors) they surprised us by deciding to go skiing in Breckenridge with us. Five gals, two guys. It's nice having guys along -talking us into going up the poma lift and skiing the very steep Horseshoe Bowl. Wouldn't have happened without them to spur us into it. They took away some of the bitchiness factor you can get with a group of chicks.

Moose and Steve each went to school the fall after their senior year - they were Super Seniors. We were glad they were still around to hang out with! By then I was dating Pablo the fabulous Pool Boy, Vic and Fred with together, Sal was dating he who shall not be named, and Jane might have been dating Stan. The guys got along well with the other men in our lives. I always think of those two this time of year as they furnished a 26 pound turkey (purloined from a frat deep freeze) for my first Thanksgiving meal cooking experience. Okay Jane was really in charge but I'm sure I helped...

After graduation we could have easily lost track of our buddies. Hauser got a job far away - in Florida I think. Moose worked in Ankeny and became pretty good friends with Fred since he and Vic lived in Ames. We all saw each other several times a year.

I've said many times how much I appreciate my sisters, my homegirls and my dear girlies of old. But I'm sure glad I have guy friends.

Livin' in a small town

I like living in a small town (hmm isn't that a song - Springsteen perhaps??). Except when I don't.

There are some definite benefits. I should know - I grew up in one. Atlantic is very similar in size to Creston - except Atlantic has the snob factor. They're in Cass County - a tier of counties north and west of Union where Creston is. A bit better farmland, and a bit bigger heads.

When I was a kid, I'm sure I was one of the cocky ones - sure A-town was the bestest. I've described in this blog how great it was to grow up there. Biking all over our part of town. Walking downtown to purchase candy and scope out the toys at the five and dimes - Ben Franklin and Bonnesons.

I must fess up to my shoplifting experience. I once lifted some grape gum from Ben Franklins. After chewing it my Catholic guilt kicked in and I went back to the store and stuck a dime near the cash register for them to find. Way to go Sister Frances - you did your job putting the 'ol Catholic guilt in place.

In those days, we didn't have credit cards - we just used Dad's name for credit. With Mom's permission, when I was in high school, I'd stop in at Seufert's - a clothing store. When I'd want something I'd just tell them to charge it to Dave Bullock. Hell it worked pretty much all over town! We joked in later years that we were going to visit Deter Chevrolet (Don Deter was one of Dad's best buddies) and "Dave Bullock" a car.

Creston isn't quite that "user friendly" though I can "Leslie Goldsmith" at the vet clinic and they'll send me a bill at the end of the month. I enjoy seeing folks I know all over town - the grocery store, and at restaurants where they know what I like to drink. Diet Coke at Elms Club (it's lunch time for gosh sakes) and Lemondrop martinis at A&G - or perhaps Amber Bock.

(They're in for a shock at A&G though cuz I have decided to take a lil break from alcohol for a few weeks.) My foot is in this damn boot and I don't really need any extra calories to work off later. Plus my liver has taken quite a lot of punishment this past few months and it needs a break. I CAN have fun and not drink (she recites to herself).

While I'm not all that gung ho about the Catholic church these days, I still find comfort in going to church surrounded by so many people I know and who know me. Plus the rituals and bad singing. I've watched some of those people go from high schoolers to parents. And they've watched me go from a young parent to....a mature empty nester.

Living in the Des Moines area, in the big city, during the week has its benefits. So many stores and restaurants at my fingertips. A nice library and walking trail in Waukee. But for now at least, my heart (and my honey) are in a small town.

Not feelin' it

Sorry. I'd love to write an entertaining blog. But I'm just not feelin' it. Haven't felt it all week, but I still forced a couple blogs. You mighta noticed. It was a looooong week. The boot takes its toll, you know.

All that velcro, unvelking and re-velking. Prolly irritates the people sitting near my cubicle too. But it puts pressure on my foot, ya know and gets to me. Like a sports bra. After a while it just starts to strangle me.

Clanking around like a pirate with a peg leg is embarrassing too. Yeah, I see the looks when I walk by cubicles - "wha?" Then they see it's me, Clumsy Leslie.

So it was nice that my birthday was this week and Paul came to visit and I got cards, gifts and bday wishes from Many. Otherwise my loooong week mighta been unbearable.

Thanks for the calls, cards and visits. Thanks for the cake, birthday shoes, books, Porn for Women of a Certain Age - good lookin' fully dressed hot older guys saying things like, "can I rub your feet?" Thanks for calling and singing happy bday. I'm a lucky older lady (despite the pegleg) with awesome fam and friends!

Tomorrow it's Cyclone game - good weather, Donnie's 50th bday S/b fun!

Travlin' with Kathleen

Kathleen and I went to Spencer today. Kathleen runs the Household Hazardous Waste program in our department - working with facilities around Iowa to provide grant money and support their work in collecting toxic stuff people no longer want.

Kathy is quite a character. I've known her for 6 years or so, ever since she took over that program. She is a 40 something single mom of 2 teens and lots of pets including a rat with a tumor. She has very short hair that she never combs. I believe she must have been quite an athlete in her day- she played softball at the University of Arizona.

Our trip today was to Spencer to talk to the nice folks there about integrated solid waste management and Kathy's grant program so they could open a hazardous waste facility. So we had a long time to chat - 3.5 hours each way. She's led an interesting life and has lived several places and worked lots of jobs. She boasts a bachelor's degree and 2 master's degrees and lot of student loans that she's still paying off - so it seems she lives paycheck to paycheck. I love her laugh.

Kathleen is a vegetarian and is gluten intolerant. So she brought her own food with her today - gluten free pancakes for breakfast and little pb&j sannies for lunch. I stopped at Subway and ate meat with a gluten-filled bun right in front of her! I know - evil.

We rocked the meeting and the attendees are now dying to start up awesome solid waste programs. They want to open a wonderful hazmat collection center. It was a good day and now I'm tired.

BD and WTH

I have had a nice birthday to start out my 52nd year. As one of my high school friends on Facebook said (it was her bday yesterday) - now I have a full deck. Ha ha. Pretty clever way to look at it.

I started out the day at 6 a.m., finding a nice Barbara's Bake Shoppe bday cake left for me by Joan, my lovely roomie. I stopped by Donut King and picked up a couple dozen cake donuts for work along with the cake. I got lots of bday wishes all day, and Facebook provided lots of shout outs. Several people called - Deb, Amy, Robyn and Jud.

I left work early and headed out to Jordan Creek to stomp around in my broke foot boot. Awaiting my beloved Pablo - who had to drive all the way from a meeting in Corning to let Odie out on his way here. We had a date. He shopped with me a bit - I got some bday clothes and shoes. Yay!

And he brought some cards and a gift from Robbie Dob - a book called The Last Lecture. I know that will be a tear jerker! Paul and I ate at Joes Crab Shack. It was okay - not great. It was just nice to spend some time with my honey.

WTH - I plead girly ignorance. What is eyebrown threading? Another one of those things girls invented and didn't explain to me!

He sends me flowers

Awww, the Poolboy sent me flowers today. It was such a nice surprise! I had kind of a bad day yesterday, and today was starting out better when I got the call that I had a delivery at the reception desk. I was expecting a big comprehensive plan package from some stakeholder. Instead it was beautiful roses from Pablo!

He's so thoughtful. Aha you say - but your birthday is tomorrow. Did he get the date wrong? Nope, I figured it out myself. He sent them early so I could enjoy them longer. I love me some Poolboy - even when he doesn't send flowers. Tomorrow night we have a BD. Big date. He's coming up to take me out to eat.

The flower delivery got me to reminiscing. (anything to avoid work) I'll always remember the first time I ever got flowers. It was spring of my freshman year of college. I had been enamored with a Junior who was a Fiji (Phi Gamma Delta). I met him when our dorm floor was invited to their frat house for wine coolers for FAC (Friday Afternoon Club). Mark Condon was one of the frat guys who was trying to get us drunk on wine coolers with Ever Clear.

I hung out with him, and eventually invited him to our "house formal." It was like prom, but you stayed overnight at a motel in DM. We were smart though and doubled up so there was no (okay very little) hanky panky. Sal took Robin Kautz, Vic took Chris Wegmann, and Jane took Randy Slater.

Then a couple weeks later Mark asked me to his frat spring party. It was a warm spring day, and I was plucking my eyebrows and picking my face when there was a knock on our dorm room door. When I opened it, there were Fiji singers inviting me to the party. "You're so sweet," they sang, "flies gather your face." I felt sweet too, all sweaty and picked. At the frat party, a guy performed a "pretend" wedding ceremony. Guess we were all supposed to act like real married folks. Hmmm not this girl!

Then the week school was over I received a dozen roses from Mark. How romantic. Then I went home for the summer, all aglow from my first college romance. I wrote him several letters and never heard back. When I went back to school that fall, I expected I'd hear from him sometime. Nope. Then we went to one of their Friday night parties. There he was acting all nice. Then he showed up late at our first house party on our dorm floor. He was feeling romantic, and I wasn't quite feeling that way. So that was that. Never heard from him again.

The funny thing is that when Paul and I were first married and lived in Council Bluffs, we went out one night with a couple who also lived in CB. He was a soil scientist with the Dept. of Ag. As we chatted it turned out that she too had dated a Fiji. And gosh his name was Mark Condon too. During the same time period. Good thing we both had moved on!

I'm the lucky one - I moved on to the right guy for me. Sigh....

The Soaps

Daytime soap operas seem to be on their way out. But Joan and I are watchin' TY&TR tonight on some cable re-run channel. My God the plot is weak - even weaker than regular TV! But oh- back in the day we did love our soaps.

Our first love, in college, was General Hospital. Jane, Sal, Vic and I would perch around Jane's 13 inch black and white TV. Luke and Laura were the stars of the day. We even stretched an extension cord out to the deck in front of our apartment so we could lay out and watch the show.

Then when I joined the working world I began watching All My Children (aka All My Kids) because I could see it over my lunch hour. And face it, with Soaps, you can watch 15 minutes and pickup an hour of action. Lots of actors and actresses have gotten their starts on soaps. I remember when Kelly Ripa got her star on AMC. And her husband Mark.

Night time soaps caught on back then too - Dallas, Falcon Crest, Knots Landing, Dynasty. We watched all of 'em. The drama! Was there ever a more evil character than JR? Okay that guy on Dynasty was close - John Forsyth? And the cliffhanger - what tension. Who shot JR? I don't even remember.

Punishment

I punished my liver with cheap wine last night. Today my whole body is paying me back. Yuck. What a wasted day! I'm not happy with myself. Why, why couldn't I remember to hydrate?

We did have fun- Bobbie, Jeff, Pablo and I met McKims and Joan and Billy in Earlham at Master Grillers. Then, after supper it was a short walk across the street to a happening little pub that had karaoke going on. Again with the bad wine. We sang several songs - the girls anyway. I led the way doing the Vincent Price speaking part on Monster Mash - in drunken dramatic fashion I might add. The bar had a couple animated characters near the door that kept me entertained - Gomez kept looking at me!

The ride home wasn't pretty. All that wine and driving didn't go well for me. I spent some time laying on the bathroom floor last night. At least I was smart enough to take my migraine meds so a headache wasn't a problem. But oh my tummy.

Life's too short (hell I'm almost 52). I don't want to waste any more days. I'm going to be the DD from now on. And PS my damn foot hurts. This boot thing sucks. Good thing I get to start my day tomorrow with my homies for my bday!